Mixing device



Dec. 18,; 1945.

J. L.. WALKER MIXING DEVICE Filedr July 3, 1944 y Fmg;

' INVENTOIL mmol? ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 18, 1945i MIXING DEVICE James L. Walker, Baytown, Tex.,assignor to Standard Oil Development ration of Delaware Company, acorpo- `Application July 3, 1944, Serial No. 543,306 i'onims. 01. 25a-4)Y The present invention is directed to a device for contactingllluidsubstances.

More particularly, the prevent invention is directed to a mixing deviceforV uids which is capable of adjustment forregulating the amount ofturbulen-ce produced when the rate of flow of fluid through the deviceis maintained constant or for maintaining constant the amount ofturbulence produced when the rate of now of fluid through the device isvariable.

The present invention may be described briefly as a mixing deviceinvolving a'shell or body in 4which are arranged anu'mber. of mixingplates with means to alter the position of the plates in the shell andthereby control the number of mixing plates through which theuid beingpassed through the mixing device is forced to flow. .Y Other objects andadvantages of the present invention may be seen from a reading ofthefollowing description taken with the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, ofone embodiment of thepresent invention showing the mixing plates all in position to allowbypassing of the plates by lluid owing through the shell, that is, witha minimum pressure drop through the incorporator;

Fig. 2 is aview of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the position of theplates altered to force the nuid to now through one of the plates;

, Fig. 3 is another view of the same embodiment with the mixingplates'in position to force fluid now through eachV of the plates, thatis, in position to cause maximum turbulence;

Fig. 4 is a view of another embodimentof the present invention having adivided flow through the incorporatorto eliminate excess thrust on theshaft carrying the 'mixing plates, and with the mixing plates shown in'position to cause mini# mum turbulencand Y Fig, 5 is another embodimentof the present invention similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing piercedcones substituted for ythe pierced plates for the mixing elements `andwith the cones addusted to require flow through all of them; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryhview of another embodiment of mixing elements. vY v Burning now specically to the drawing, and

rst to Fig. 1, theincorp'orator has a cylindrical shell II, with a plateI2 closing one Vend and a plate-l3 the other end. .An inletline I4 isprovided through plate I2 and an outlet line I5 leads from the end ofthe shell adjacentV plate I3. Within shell YII are arranged spacedbushings I6, I'I,. I8 and I9. These bushings are of proper- 'diameter tohave their outer surface contacting snugly with the inner surface ofshell VI I. v These bushings are of successively greater width; that isto say, bushing I6 is the narrowest, bushing f I1 is somewhat wider thanbushing I6, kbushing kI8 is wider than bushing I'I, and bushing I9 thewidest of the group.

Within the incorporator shell is rod 20, coaxial with the shell andmaintained in position by guides 2I and 22, which are securedrespectively to end plates I2 and I3. End plate I3 is provided with asuitable packing 23 to prevent the leakage of fluidvat this point. Theend of the rod extendingfabove end plate I 3 is provided with a screwthread 24 and a keyway 25. Secured to end plate I3 and embracing rod 20is annulus 26, carrying key 21. A hand Wheel 28 is carried by annulus26. The arrangementpof the hand wheel, screw thread and key at theend ofthe incorporato-r allows the rod to bemoved longitudinally respect tothe shell II at the option of an operator.

Within shell II and spaced along rod 20 are disks v29, 30, 3l and 32,provided with perforations 9, These disks extend transversely withrespect to the incorporator shell and have a diameter slightly less thanthe inside diameter of bushings I6, Il, I8 and I9. The spacing of thebushings` and the pierced disks is such that as rod 20 is moved, theedges of the disks come in opposition successively with thecorrespondingbushings.

In Fig. l, none of the disks is in opposition to 'a bushing, and thefluid passing through the incorporator may ow around each of the mixingdisks, so that all the disks may be said to be bypassed by the-fluid,although a relatively small f amount of uid will take a path through theperforations of thev disks. Upon the rotation of hand wheel 28, thedisks may be brought into opposition to the bushings, with disk 32`iirst brought into opposition with bushing I'S, then additional disk 3|brought into opposition with I8, then additional disk 30 broughty intooppositionwth bushing I'I, and nally disk 29 brought'into oppositionwith bushing I6,'to place each diskin the mixingdevice in opposition toits respective bushing. Fig. 2 shows the device adjusted with disk 32 inopposition with bushing I9, while Fig. 3shoWs the device with all` ofthe disks brought into opposition with their respect/ive bushings. Whilesome turbulence re..

sults when the uids are forced to pass through Y the annular spacebetween the shell and the disks, this turbulence is relatively smallcompared with through the incorporator. This arrangement rer-V duces oreliminates uid thrust on the rod,v carrying the mixing plates. In thisembodiment shelll 4U is provided with an inlet 11|` conducting fluidvinto a central portion lof 'the shell, is; provided With outlets 42 and43 for removing fluid from each end of the shell. The outlets 42 and 43discharge into conduit 44.

One end of shell 4!) is provided with spaed; bushings corresponding Itothose of Fig. 1 and hence 4given identical numbers, being designatedeis-bushings It, I'I, I-8 and I9. The other end of the` mixingshell isprovided with bushings spaced awayA from the inlet in the same manner asin the end Apreviously described and hence are designated by numeralsI6', Il', I8 and I9. Rod 20' extends longitudinally through the shelland terminates with a threaded end and hand wheel 2 8 to allowtheadjusitment of this rod in the same manner that rod 2.9- is adjustedin Fig. 1. Secured 'to rod 29 `are, transversely extending, mixingdisks, 29, 3 0, 3| and. 32 arranged to be brought into opposition`respectively with bushings I6, I1., |.8;and I9, and. disks 29.', 33.',3l and 32 arranged to bev brought in-to opposition with bushings t6',

In the embodiment of Fig. 4 the longitudinal movement of rod 2.0; causespairs of mixing disks togbe brought. simultaneously into oppositionwith.paire of, bushings. For example, withy theA device adjusted as showninF-ig. 4, fluidflowing through the incorporator may bypass yall of themixing disks. Movement of 'the end: of rodl 2D' carryingA screw threadY2.4. away` from body 40 rstbrings intelongesitionplate.32. witnbushingl- 9 and plate 3525 With; bushing IS".v Continued movement of fred 2.1ibrings into Opposition platesA 3.1. and. 3 1" with `buslfiingsu I8 andL8' respectively; then in SiiQGeSSiOri pairs. of mixing plates 30,` and-30. are bmushi' into.- opnositipn. with bushings, l1. and Ilandnlateslfand 29? in Oppositionwith bushings I6 and I6.

Theembodiment ofy Fig. is similar to; that of Fig. lywith-the exceptionthat-the mixing disks have been `replacedby double cones 49, 5U,5 and52. It willV be understood that this embodiment may befprovidedwithmeans for moving rod 20 longitudinally including a hand wheel, and screwthread, as are the precedin-gly described embodiments, butin order @tosimplify the drawing,rv a showing of such meansl has been omitted fromthis gure. These cones are yprovided withperforations 5,3, correspondingto perforations 9 of themixing disks previously described. The mixe ingcones of the embodiment of Fig. 5 may be brought intoopposition withcorresponding bushingsIB, I1, IB and I9 by movement of the rod 20 in,exactly the. same way as in the embodiments previouslydescribed.

Another arrangement of mixing means is shown in thefragmentary View Fig.6. In this view-the mixing elements are cones 59., 60,, S-I and`6,2,vsecuredto rod.2 Il and provided with perforationsS; Thisfassembl'yyof mixing cones maybe arranged inthe.. shell ofanfincorporator in llexactly the same Way as the pierced plates of the embodiment of Fig. 1or the pierced double cones of the embodiment of Fig. 5. It will beunderstood that the number and size of the holes of the elementsemployed to produce turbulence in mixing may be varied as desired.

It will also be understood that the lastl plate to comein oppositionwith the bushing in the ad- Lu st mentv of; the, dvicay that plate 29 ofthe embodiment of Fig. 1, may, if desired, be without perforations Whena solid plate of this type is provided, the rate of flow through theincorporaitor may be substantially zero, and in this Way efli- Icientmixing at Very low rates of Huid flow may be obtained. Itv will also lbeevident that While embodiments with bushings I 6, I1, I8 and I9 ofdiffering widths and spacing and plates 29, 3D, 31 and 32- of' equalwidth and spacing have been shownin :the drawing, an arrangement withbushings IS, I1, I8 and I9 of uniform width and unequal spacingandn withplates 2,9, 39, SI: andv 32 of equal width and` spacingis equivalentthereto. Similarly, the widths-andA spacing ofthe bushings and..theplates may' be-reversed, and the bushings mayy be uniform inwidthand equally spaced, whilethe spaces between the plates are unequal.

It; vvillfbez seen thatA I havel disclosed a. mixing device, which. mayybe positively adjusted by an operator; to give the=desired amount ofturbulence to uids being: admixed over a wide range of rate of.. flow;Whilelhayedisclosed specific embodiments ofthe present invention, itWillbealpparent that de tailsof the kdevice maybe altered withoutdeparting.- from the scope of. the invention, and itismy intention toAembrace such changes in the hereto appendedclaims.

I claim? l;` A .Contacting device for fluid substancescomprisng, incombination, an elon gatedtubular shell p royidedwithaniinletmeans and,xan outlet means, a plurality of bushings of differing widths spaced in;said shell; between theinlet means. and the Outlet; means, with theoutside surfaces of said bnshingsjn CQntact,Wth thee inner surface. of!the shell, arodarnangedingthe shell coaxialztherewithendlpngitudnallymovable from a rst position to a second position,perforated;baies carried. b-y saidgrod, saidbalesbeingequal in number tothe bushings int-heg;shell;l and: slidable in. the bushings and;sntedfon thef'rod so; thatwhen therod. is in itsfirstpositionncne; ofthe-.balilesis adjacent a bushing,but.as therodzismoved: fromits rst toits; secondipositio an4 increasing: numben of the bales is breush 1n;opposition to the bushings.

2.. i-.contacting deviceior iiuids comprisingin Combination. tubular;shell having an. inlet adi a.- centone rend; and.; ana outlet-.adjacentthe opposite end,z aL plurralityof bush-ings in; said shell,` saidbushings being- Q,f equal inside,v and outside diarnieter and ofprogressively increasingzwdths. and spaced in; the,` shell;l with thevoutside surf aces, in Contact;t with they insidel surface; of: theshell. and with thel distances separating.; adjacent bushings increasingasthe,widthzofjthebushings decreases, a. rod Coaxial withftheshelllongitudinally f movable fronra `1i,rstpositioirto;r ag.- second;position, a plurality of perforated; b afliesg, with; a, diameterSlightlyI lessthan the.- insidediameter:off-the bushing ssecured tosaidlrodand, spaced so; thatwhen the.mettais:irlfvherst;positionmo baffleopposesa bushing; butnasth .-rpd. is. m.cvedfromA its nrstrtoitsfseondnositionzamincreasing.-numberf"bales iS. @IQg'islvolyfbmughtrinopposition .to the bushlnesi., f Y3:.:frcmliiautng.davcezfor.lluiclrsubstancescomF prising, incombination,A a tubular shell having the inlet and the first outlet withthe distance between adjacent bushings decreasing as the width of thebushings increases from the inlet to the first outlet and with the outersurfaces of the bushings in contact with the inner surface of the shell,a second set of bushings corresponding in number and dimensions to therst set of bushings spaced in the shell between the inlet and the secondoutlet with the distance between adjacent bushings decreasing as thewidth of the bushings increases from the inlet to the second outlet, arod arranged in the shell coaxial therewith and longitudinally movablefrom a first to a second position, a iirstand a second set of perforatedbailies carried by the rod, said baiiles having a diameter slightly lessthan the inside diameter of the bushings and slidable therein and spacedalong the rod so that when the rod is in its first position none of thebaiiles opposes a bushing, but as the rod is moved from its first to itssecond position the number of the rst set of baffles opposing the rstset of bushings and the number of the second set of baffles opposing thesecond set of bushings increases progressively and equally.

4. A contacting device comprising, in combina--A tion, an elongatedshell defining a longitudinally extending passage including sections ofenlarged iiow area and at least two spaced sections of reduced iiow areaand an inlet and an outlet separated by said spaced sections of reducedflow area, a rod in the shell parallel with the axis of the passage andmovable progressively in a longitudinal direction from an initialpmsition to a second and third position, a first perforated baiile platemounted on said rod with its periphery defining a boundary ttingslidingly within one of said sections of reduced flow Iarea when the rodis in its second and third positions and lying in a section of enlargedflow area when the rod is in its j

